Mediterranean Cross – Border Programme

The European Union (EU) by committing funds through various funds and instruments is encouraging the development of good neighborly relations and boosts the progress of the Member States, candidate countries and potential candidate countries for the EU membership. One of the main EU policies, being focused on the development of less developed countries and cross-border cooperation is the European regional policy. The European regional policy is based the “financial solidarity”, and its main objectives are as follows: convergence (accelerated development of less developed member states / regions by improving employment conditions), regional competitiveness and employment (competitiveness and activities strengthening of less developed regions, as well as the employment development) and the European territorial cooperation (strengthening cross-border, transnational and interregional cooperation).

One of the instruments of regional policy, aimed at achieving the objectives of the European Territorial Co-operation, is the Mediterranean Programme. Namely, the Mediterranean programme supports transnational cooperation of partners from the countries/regions of the EU and the beneficiary of the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA), in order to increase the competitiveness of the Mediterranean area. The programme is aimed at strengthening cross-border cooperation through local and regional initiatives, strengthening transnational cooperation through activities that lead to integrated territorial development, and strengthening interregional cooperation and exchange of experiences. The main source of funding for the MED program is the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). Within the financial perspective 2007-2013, the envisaged budget for the Mediterranean programme is above EUR 250 million...